College has been quite the adventure thus far, and I can't wait to see how it continues this summer. Let me explain...

I'm a type A personality through and through. I still am...mostly. I think it's something that God and I have been working on this year. You see, this year has taken me from having my 5-year plan to not knowing what my life would look like even just 6 months ahead and be insanely stressed about that, to now just, mostly, going with the flow. Proverbs 16:9 says "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." Man is this so true in my own life. For so long, I've tried desperately and unsuccessfully to plan out my life the way I've wanted it. But my goodness, the Lord has shown me that His plans are infinitely better, ALWAYS.

One of His plans for me this summer includes me spending 6 weeks halfway across the world in Oxford/London, Barcelona, and Ghana. The program I'm in, Justice Along the Meridian, will be looking at social problems that are occurring throughout the world. I'm so stoked to be a part of this, and the way this whole thing came about was such a God-thing.

Going into college, unlike many students, I had no desire to study abroad. I'm graduating a full year early and by studying abroad, it would push me back a semester and with graduate program start dates being in the fall, for the most part, I would have to wait even more and I was just not into it. I knew my college had summer abroad programs, but honestly, I just figured that after spending so many long months away from home, it would be nicer to just spend my summer in Chicago.

All of fall semester, I had heard about the J.A.M program, and basically, it was just in one ear and out the other. Then spring semester came around and my mom had somehow heard about the program, so she asked me about it over the phone one day, and kind of planted the idea of me potentially participating. The application was due two weeks from that day, so it was definitely very short notice, but after a lot of thought and prayer, I just went for it. I don't want to live my life regretting missed opportunities, and I felt that by not going abroad, I would always wonder "what if?"

I've never been out of the U.S., so I know I'm in for a huge shock, but I could not be more excited. However, at the same time, there's also a lot of fear of the unknown.

I'm remembering 1 Joshua 1:9 that says: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

God has some incredible things planned for this summer, I am absolutely sure of it. And this time, I'm not trying to plan a piece of it. God is in control. I have felt this truth so strongly this year. My future is in His hands and it could not possibly be in a safer place than that.

Oxford, Barcelona, and Ghana — I'm coming for you.